Language Specialist

Full Job Description

The mission of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) is to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel from our Nation's past conflicts to their families and our Nation.

DPAA personnel research, investigate, recover, and identify remains of DoW personnel unaccounted for from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Iraq conflicts and Persian Gulf War.

The DPAA Director, (SES-III) reports to the Under Secretary of War for Policy (USW(P)). The Language Specialist occupation has specific requirements which apply to all positions.

To qualify, applicants must meet the following Basic Requirement: A.

Education: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- the appropriate foreign language (Vietnamese) from an English-speaking college or university, English from a college or university in the other country or translating or interpreting where English and the foreign language were prerequisites.

OR B.

Experience: Experience in translating, interpreting, or other work requiring the use of English and the other language; or a combination of work (that required English and the other language) and training at the Defense Language Institute, Foreign Service Institute, or comparable training In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement above, you must also meet the specialized experience requirement below: You may qualify at the GS-12 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to: 1.

Translating, interpreting, or other work requiring the use of English and Laotian; 2.

Logistics, to include personnel and equipment movement by air/ground and base camp establishment in remote environments, field search and recovery mission operational planning, execution, and post-mission reporting; 3.

Developing solutions to linguistic problems posed by special situations or subject matter.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume. Your resume may not exceed two (2) pages.

For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume.

If a determination is not able to be made about the duration of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration.

Read more about what should I include in my federal resume at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, as part of their application package, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, indicating the service member is otherwise eligible and will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of submission..

A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service.

This "certification" must include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable), and date any terminal leave will begin.

It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters.

Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible".

Members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if they are on terminal leave.

DOD PPP candidates using Application-Based Procedures: Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: Military Spouse Preference applicants, must be selected and placed at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified.

You must include a completed copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-4) dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Spouse Preference.

Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified.

You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-3) to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician preference.

Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians Receiving Disability Retirement PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians receiving disability retirement PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified.

You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-2) to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability preference.

Retained Grade PPP Eligible: Retained Grade PPP applicants, must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified.

You must include a completed copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-1) to verify your eligibility for Retained Grade preference.

All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume. Major Duties:

Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following: Provides on-site accurate and complete translation, interpretation linguistic support to the Indo Pacific (IP) Division, AOR Commander, Detachment Commander, and by extension those personnel and organizational entities integral to the pursuit of DPAA's mission.

Incumbent may also lead archival research missions in a specific nation and provide liaison with the associated government officials to enhance the POW/MIA accounting mission.

Analyzes weather, terrain and routes using web-based tools, maps and firsthand knowledge of nation specific AOR to facilitate case selection, development of operational and logistical plans for JFAs, and site survey tasks to include rotary wing aviation concepts of support, coordination and execution.

Arranges and coordinates all aspects of the IP Division, AOR/Detachment's routine visits to the host Ministries of Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Public Security and the U.S. Embassy/Consulate.